Scale means: The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an
instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; -- chiefly
used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus
for weighing. Also used figuratively.

Scale means: One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces
which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals,
belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See
Cycloid, Ctenoid, and Ganoid.

Scale means: One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some
invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of
Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See Lepidoptera.